An essential service in County Galway that provides treatment for drink, drugs and gambling addictions is in danger of closing its doors because it is being starved of cash.

The Cuan Mhuire centre in Coolarne near Turloughmore – which treats around 400 people with addictions a year, has found itself in a financially precarious position having overrun its budget last year through no fault of its own.

And the projections are that it will do the same again this year if there isn’t some government intervention – otherwise, it will be forced to close its doors.

Now, Cllr David Collins (FG) has made contact with his party colleague Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol, to determine if she can intervene in the centre’s precarious financial situation.

The Turloughmore area councillor said it was a vital centre for the West as it provided respite for hundreds of families on an annual basis.

The centre received just over €184,000 in funding from the HSE and, despite fundraising and separate donations, it still had a €180,000 overrun last year alone and the situation is not looking any better for 2023.

Director Anne Boland admitted to the Connacht Tribune: “We are in a financial bind”. It costs €1.2 million to run the service on an annual basis, she confirmed.

Photo: Paudie Boland (Financial Director) and Anne Boland (Director) with Cllr David Collins at Cuan Mhuire in Coolarne, Turloughmore.

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